Karen Barrie

I’ve always had an interest in the beauty industry and, as a stay at home mum, I wanted a career that would fit around childcare. Studying HNC Beauty was the ideal course for me, combining my interests with a career where I could be self-employed.

For me, college was an amazing experience. I met great people, made good friends and learned so much. I was happy to go to college as a mature student and being elected by my classmates to be the class rep was a real confidence booster. I found the lecturers really easy to communicate with and, as well as being supportive, they made the learning process fun.

A highlight for me was the work experience placement at Butterfly Beauty. It was fantastic to gain experience in a salon. This placement, along with the realistic classroom set-up in the college using the best products, gave me the confidence to progress.

I am delighted and very proud to have won the Student of the Year award. I couldn’t have done this without the support of the lecturers, who have been with me every step of the way. I would recommend the college to anyone looking to work in the beauty industry as the facilities are magnificent. I’m looking forward to setting up a mobile beauty business in the near future.

Karen’s lecturer said “Karen’s attitude and application in all aspects of college work have been exemplary. She consistently showed high levels of motivation, is greatly respected by both lecturers and fellow students, and she was very supportive of others in the class. “Her work is always professional, she’s always well prepared and performs treatments to the highest standard. Karen is a confident and articulate student who has the personality and people skills which will make her an asset to any beauty salon.”